Crispy Baked "Fried" Chicken

Bathing chicken pieces in buttermilk ensures that the meat stays moist, coating it in crushed corn flakes ensures that the skin is crispy, and baking the chicken instead of frying it keeps the fat and calories down.

Individual Turkey Shepherd's Pie

Portion control and lean ground turkey are key to enjoying this healthier version of shepherd's pie; aromatics, herbs and sharp cheddar cheese ensure that it has all the flavor of the original comforting dish.

Baked Green Tomatoes and Zucchini

Fried green tomatoes are a Southern favorite, but deep-frying isn't exactly the healthiest way to cook vegetables. Bobby Deen lightens up the traditional recipe for fried green tomatoes by baking them instead of frying them, and he adds in some extra zucchini to up the amount of veggies in this dish.

Chicken and Biscuit Pot Pie

Chicken and biscuits is usually a heavy, calorie-laden dish. Ellie's healthy modifications like whole-wheat flour and low-fat buttermilk ensure that you can enjoy this comfort food without all the guilt.

Macaroni and Four Cheeses

Cheddar, Monterey Jack, ricotta, and Parmesan go into this deliciously cheesy mac and cheese, which gets an added boost of vegetables from the addition of butternut squash. A sprinkle of crunchy breadcrumbs goes on top.

Overnight French Toast Bake

Whole-wheat bread ups the fiber in this beloved breakfast dish, but the best part is how easy this French toast comes together. The slices soak in the mixture overnight and are ready to go straight to the oven in the morning.

Beef Taco Salad with Chunky Tomato Dressing

Anyone who thinks salads are a little too dainty will want in on this taco rendition. With chili-spiced beef and sharp cheddar cheese over a bed of greens, all doused with a chunky tomato-lime dressing and topped by corn chips, it has high-impact flavor to satisfy even big appetites.

Tuna Casserole

This is a surprisingly healthy version of the classic tuna casserole many of us grew up eating. Ellie makes her own creamy mixture, which stands in for the typical condensed soup. Fresh whole-wheat breadcrumbs toast right on top of the casserole, which also features whole-wheat noodles.

Baked Nachos with Roasted Sweet Potatoes

This lightened-up recipe has everything you could want in a platter of nachos: the crunchiness of homemade tortilla chips, spiciness from saucy adobo-tinged pinto beans and creaminess from roasted sweet potatoes and avocado, all topped with a fresh salsa.

Butternut Squash and Turkey Chili

This recipe captures many of the traditional flavors of chili, but boosts its texture, color and vitamins. We've used protein-rich black beans, lean ground turkey and sweet butternut squash, as well adding some unexpected crunch and thickening power with chia seeds.

Healthy Whole-Wheat Pizza with Arugula-Parsley Pesto

This nutrient-packed pesto is made with arugula for a snappy change of pace. Just a little perks up a hearty whole-wheat crust — but you'll quickly find other uses for it, too. It's a great topper for crostini, elegant with grilled chicken and (surprise!) a perfect partner to pasta. The dough is just as versatile. Make a batch to keep on hand in the freezer and defrost to room temperature as needed.

Roasted Cauliflower Lasagna

Cauliflower is the star in this healthy lasagna, appearing in two roles — one when it's blended into the ricotta cheese filling for texture, and a second when it's roasted and used in place of the traditional meatballs or sausage. Sweet red bell pepper adds complexity to the tomato sauce and balances the richness of the cheeses.

Spinach and Artichoke Macaroni and Cheese

This lightened-up but still creamy version of macaroni and cheese is full of protein — an impressive 29 grams per serving, quite an accomplishment for a vegetarian meal. The whole-wheat pasta, spinach and artichoke hearts add their vitamin, mineral and fiber superpowers.

Turkey and Beef Meatloaf with Cranberry Glaze

Turkey and cranberries are a match made in heaven — why wait for Thanksgiving to enjoy it? This healthy take on meatloaf pairs the two in an inspired way: Turkey lightens up the traditional ground-beef base, and antioxidant-rich cranberries are the centerpiece of a tangy glaze.

Whole-Grain Chocolate-Cherry Bread Twists

The nuttiness of the whole-grain dough in these twists syncs up perfectly with the bittersweet chocolate and the tart cherries. The twists come in at a modest 160 calories each but taste rich, thanks in part to just a little butter brushed over them right when they come out of the oven.

Whole-Wheat Brussels Sprout, Squash and Ricotta Pizza

This colorful pizza is packed with vitamin C, calcium, iron and fiber. You can reduce the amount of cheese (and fat) by dolloping fresh ricotta and sprinkling Parmesan on the pizzas after they're baked.

Healthy Sausage in a Pepper

Sausage and peppers are frequent partners, but they haven't quite met like this before. Cooked bell peppers are filled and folded like a taco, for a gluten-free, super-satisfying (and low-calorie!) meal. Be sure to wrap in wax paper to help catch all the juices.